The girl in the story, Maria is helping her mother cook tamales and Christmas Dinner. She loves her mothers beautiful ring, and decides to put it on hThe girl in the story, Maria is helping her mother cook tamales and Christmas Dinner. She loves her mothers beautiful ring, and decides to put it on her finger when her mother steps out of the kitchen. All of a sudden its lost and now it could be in 24 tamales! The reason I love this story is because it shows children that everyone has different traditions at the holidays, and some even celebrate different ones. The story brings the point accross at the same time of making it relevant for children.

Extension: Do a group discussion. Get a piece of chart paper to chart their answers. Talk about what each child does on a holiday. Whats their traditions? What do the celebrate? (remember some can be sensitive to this subject) Chart it. Children will even understand that their friends have different traditions or cultures then their family. ...more

Are you my mother? I have a heart for Dr. Seuss books; especially this one. A little newborn bird goes on a hunt to find out where is mother is. He asAre you my mother? I have a heart for Dr. Seuss books; especially this one. A little newborn bird goes on a hunt to find out where is mother is. He asks other animals such as a cat, hen, dog, and cow if they are his mother. He even asks a plane and a boat if they are too. He finally reaches him mom and understands why his mother is his mother. It’s a great book to talk about family or differences. It’s also a great first read for a child. Extension: Have each child bring in a picture of their mom. (or draw them if they do not have one) (it could be dad to) Make a class collage of the mommy’s. Get the children to write/draw (whatever’s age appropriate) something that makes their mommy special....more